A/N: Hello, everyone! :) This is my fic contribution to Ship Day over on Gateworld. It's just the start, there will be more chapters. And, as well as being a Ship Day story, this is also part of the Sam/Jack Made Up Episodes Project. Basically, the S/J shippers on GW's S/J appreciation thread came up with an 'abc' list of ideas for shippy stories. This was under 'T', naturally. It isn't placed in any particular season of SG-1 but it must be one where Sam, Jack, Daniel and Teal'c are SG-1. And S/J aren't together at the start. I think that covers everything, so I own nothing. Enjoy!
It was bizarre. Actually, no - bizarre didn't even cover it. When Jack had received the file, he'd pinched himself at least ten times (his biceps were still sore). Not only had the planet been briefly visited by SG-3 months ago, which didn't explain their sudden need to revisit, but the population previously found there vanished along with their village (or so their pre-mission probe said).
"Maybe they just moved house," he'd suggested - the eyebrows had raised en masse. So he'd gone away and devoted the remainder of his time before the mission to producing inventive ways to pass the time. However, as he made his way along the SGC's corridors, he started to doubt how well-prepared he was. The Gateroom doors retracted in front of him and he strode inside, picking out the forms of his team as he went. Teal'c was facing away from him, deep in conversation with someone in the Control Room, while Sam and Daniel were engaged in their own discussion. Sam tapped the archaeologist on the shoulder and motioned in Jack's direction with a little wave. Jack bowed his head curtly, approaching the three as they grew closer together.
"Morning, folks. It's still morning, right?" he asked, glancing in Sam's direction for confirmation. The blonde turned her wristwatch towards him. "11am. Nice. We should be back just in time for tea!"
"I believe it's called lunch, O'Neill," Teal'c corrected him - with a hint of amusement.
"Nah, buddy. It's a pun. Pretty rubbish one, though," Jack shook his head and chuckled. He ran a hand through his hair before he directed another sentence at the rest of the group. "Everybody ready? Sidearms, jackets... Guts?"
"I think I'd know if I lost my guts, Sir," Sam rolled her eyes (but winked when their companions weren't watching). "Anyway, we better clear the ramp. They'll be dialling the Gate soon."
Jack followed her down the ramp, still watching curiously for any sign of the tongue-in-cheek Sam he'd just encountered. Much to his chagrin, she made no further appearances - even as the first few chevrons locked. They remained in companionable silence while the sequence continued, components illuminating in turn. The silver circle whined before a sea of blue sprung up, taking a moment to settle. Then it filled the Gateroom with a familiar glow. Sam blinked several times, marching towards the wormhole with her three colleagues. The odd sensation, to which she'd almost become desensitized, seized the four of them and deposited the intrepid explorers on the planet ahead. Fresh air was the first thing that found them - a humbling warmth diluted by breeze. Green pastures stretched ahead of them, outlined by a thick band of entangled trees and a dirt track that split three ways. Out of place shoes crumpled the emerald blades as they trudged away from the deactivating wormhole.
"I'd say we're not in Kansas anymore but... Well, you get the idea," Jack jested, earning a raised eyebrow from Sam (he was sure it was saying 'seriously'). "Right, folks, I suggest we split up - Carter, you're with me. Daniel, Teal'c, you go and look behind the gate."
"And where are we going, Sir?" his partner asked him as their teammates trekked off in the opposite direction. Her commanding officer shrugged indifferently.
"Over the hills and far away," was his sardonic reply, causing her to burst into a fit of uncharacteristic giggles with joy bubbling up in her tone.
"I can't wait..." she tossed back and tugged her jacket off, shedding a layer and leaving her skin at the mercy of the scorching sun. Jack smuggled a glance at her - conscious of his vision resting on her, she beamed at the rebellious streak of pleasure it gave her.
"How do you think it happened, then? You know, how does a whole town go 'poof'?" he quizzed her, entirely ready for a long string of technobabble and theorising.
"I...don't know," Sam answered. Jack did a double take, staring at her. "What?!"
"Just expected some massive speech, I guess," he explained to her a little sheepishly. "You know - 'this could've happened but, then again, it might've been this'."
"Really, Sir? I mean, do I actually go on that much?" she watched his features in anxiety, waiting for his reply.
"Carter, no, I can't-"
"Sir, please, just tell-" she insistently pleaded, only to be cut off.
"Carter, listen," he interjected. Sam placed her hands on her hips, taking up stance and halting their steady hike up the hill. It was then, when she shifted in front of him, that he noticed the structure in the distance.
"Jack?" she prompted him. He raised his hand, gesturing ever-so-slightly forward with his head. Realising his intention, she spun around to face that way. "What the... How?"
Before them stood the very village they knew to be eradicated.
Jack's jaw hung loose. How was it possible? He snapped his mouth shut as Sam whipped her head back in his direction. At her questioning gaze, he simply lifted his shoulders.
"I don't suppose you have any idea, Carter?" he sounded semi-hopeful - his second in command figured that he was bracing himself for her next statement.
"I hate to repeat myself but I don't know. No idea at all, Sir..." she huffed, visibly deflating as the explanations wormed away from her grasp. "Sorry, I'm just not thinking straight today."
"Don't push yourself - it's confusing. And that's coming from someone who's not even thinking about it," he quipped. "I suppose we should report back in and let 'em know what we've got."
Signalling her agreement, she turned tail and began to stumble back down the grassy mound. She looked upwards, chest heaving as she inhaled, the pastel blue sky seemed further away than it'd been previously. As though an invisible barrier was separating her from it. She was standing at the bottom of a pit and looking upwards, almost.
Odd, she mused inwardly. I'll have to mention it when we report in.
"What're you thinking, Carter?" he broke into her train of thought. After a moment, he amended with, "in English."
"The sky doesn't look right. See?" Sam pointed to the cloudy expanse above them. Jack appeared taken aback - nevertheless, he aligned his eyesight with her finger.
"Yeah, weird. Just tell the guys back at the SGC, deal? Only, my days of growing wings and flying are over..." he attempted to brush it off and inserted some humour into the situation. Although still apprehensive, Sam quieted and Jack increased his pace. He wandered a few yards ahead of her, feet usurping the dirt as they made boot-shaped impressions in the brown substance. His teammate observed him from behind until he stopped to right the laces of his boot - she tilted her head to the side and scrambled to a halt to maintain their distance. In a few seconds, they were off again and Sam returned to contemplating his behaviour in their earlier conflict about her 'explanations'.
Why wouldn't he tell me? I mean, it can't be because he's my friend, right? Teal'c and I are friends but he'd be brutally honest, she shook her head, hoping to dislodge the thoughts plaguing it. Though, she needn't have worried; if that hadn't done it, the crush of the sudden solid object that rushed up against her would have. It was slightly taller than her, oddly shaped and strangely...squishy. Sam frowned.
"Ouch," it grunted.
So it talks, she noted. Three guesses who it is.
"Hey, Carter, not that I don't appreciate you being friendly but can you...you know...get off me?" at his words, a blush snuck onto her cheeks. Cautiously, she placed her hands on his shoulders and pushed herself up. "Thanks."
"Sorry. Why did you stop walking? Is something wrong?" she enquired. Jack gave her a perplexed look.
"Stop walking... Carter, are you sure you didn't bump your head on my shoulder blade or something? I didn't stop walking, something...stopped me," he told her despite how the improbability grew with every word he spoke. "Wait a minute..."
He reached out for the space where he'd come to an abrupt standstill. Palm spread flat-out, it met resistance all of a sudden. Looking over his shoulder at Sam, Jack waved at it with his other hand. The astrophysicist simply looked abashed.
"Well, can your hand go through it?" she put forward, watching as he pressed further against the mysterious force to no avail. "Hmm, let me try over here."
Just a few steps away, she mimicked his actions. When she received the same response, she scowled and dropped her arm back to her side.
"You think it goes all the way round?" Jack asked her, his features adopting a worrisome countenance. Sam bit her lip at the thought - she nodded slowly, though she only seemed half-certain. So Jack seized his radio and scrambled desperately to contact the rest of his team. "Daniel, Teal'c, do you read?"
Static ground from the device.
"I repeat, do you read?"
The grating sound continued. He released the radio. Sam's heart thudded murderously against her ribcage when their eyes locked. She stepped closer, drawing on the security of proximity.
"So we're stuck here," she voiced. Jack grasped her shoulder with one hand.
"Still got to check how far it goes, come on," he corrected and turned her by the shoulder. Allowing herself to be led a little of the way before her legs took on a life of their own, she couldn't help but doubt his words.
Does he really believe that? her mind babbled as doubt laced her thoughts. What mess have we got ourselves into, Jack?
A/N: Now, I want to apologise for certain random dialogue filling this chapter and how short it was - I had little to go by and I didn't want the first chapter to 'rush into things'. I want this to be a big fic with any luck. Regardless, I hope you enjoyed it. :) Positive or constructive reviews are welcome but no flames. ;P Thanks for reading!